How a Person With Bipolar Thinks

Something I found informative and I could relate to from beginning to end. I always thought everything was the OCD, I guess not.

How a Person with Bipolar Thinks | Bipolar Burble Blog | Natasha Tracy

The following is what I struggle with daily, as does everyone, and it stresses me out so much. It all made so much sense to me and was helpful.

"People with bipolar disorder are constantly trying to figure out what a “normal” and “reasonable” thought process and reaction would be in any given situation. We’re constantly trying to overcome how our bipolar brain naturally thinks in order to have healthy interactions and healthy relationships. We’re constantly trying to deal with the extremeness of our thoughts internally so we don’t thrust them on the external world."

"And this is beyond difficult. Trying to defeat the way a bipolar brain thinks is near-on impossible. Dealing with bipolar thoughts is a full-time gig and an exhausting one at that. But it is important. Because if we don’t moderate our own thoughts and deal with them appropriately, we can’t hope to have healthy relationships with others. And if that happens then all those pesky catastrophes we worried needlessly about will have come true."

No wonder I find being alone much easier than being around other people.

Interesting article. Thanks

Personally I have had to force myself to not overanalyze all my thoughts. Not always easy but I was burned out always triple checking how I feel and think, comparing myself to neurotypicals.. There is no way to compare myself that way.

I'm trying so hard to do exactly what you are doing. I've just recently really realized how much I actually do it. It's going to be hard changing something you've done your whole life without realizing it. I'm always trying to read people's faces when I say things because I don't always know if it is appropriate or off the wall, and then I can't read them either. It is so frustrating, but ultimately I just need to stop this and enjoy life. Thanks.

Me too, I just like to be home with my dogs, like you said it's so much easier.

I work full time....so I hold up in my home on the weekends,,must force myself to go out if needed....just want time away from people...

This is why I don't mind being on disability. My stress levels have dropped to near zero because I don't have to be "out there" trying to figure out other peoples' facial expressions or what they're really saying between the lines. Nor do I have to worry that my own thoughts/actions will offend unintentionally. I struggled so badly with that, and yet I was a good nurse.....just wasn't a very good employee. Anyway, I love Natasha Tracy and want to be her when my blog grows up.

Neurotypical, although seeming to relate to the autism spectrum as opposed to mental illness, is a great word, thank you.

Thank you for sharing this. It's a real eye opener and explains a lot of things for me

I really like Natasha Tracy, Bipolar Burble is also on Facebook! I also like Positive Outlooks on fb

I don't have this problem with thought process or reaction.

Yep that is one I always like too and I like calling us neuroatypical rather than mentally ill or neuroatypicality rather than disorder. Fits much better. And a better description of what it is. I think.

Interesting to read and probably very true.......so little washes over me and I'm always trying to triangulate things, like my brain is on hyper-drive most of the day. IMO, that's the core problem for me. The symptom is when I lash out, talk a blue streak, look for outlets, or get paranoid.

Yup, like this.
I over-analyze. For sure. But I really don't try to compare what's going on in there with a neurotypical. I have no real point of reference after all. I can't be inside their brain(!) (I can only know they should be glad not to be in mine(!))

The closest I can come, I suppose, is in reality-checking. Can I maybe, just maybe let go of what would be scenario #65 (if only I were able to line the dominoes of possibilities into a nice tidy chart where they could be numbered instead of whirling around)? It's ridiculously out there in terms of probability. That's about as close as I come to trying to think like a neurotypical might.

LOL I cant slow my brain down enough to be Neurotypical , I dunno how some people can manage life with a slowed down brain, My husband can have like 3 thoughts in his head at once any more than that and he freaks out He is clueless how I can juggle 1001 every minute !